Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Haggai 2: 9
2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
Superiority and Purpose of Second Temple—
[Haggai 2:9 quoted.] The outward glory of the temple was not the glory of the Lord. Instruction was given as to what constituted the blessing that was to rest upon the temple. Its restoration in a plainer style than that of the first temple, was to place before the people in a proper light their past error in depending upon the pomp and splendor of outward form and ceremony. The temple was to be erected at this time, also, to remove the reproach of their disloyalty to God. Haggai instructed the people that by heartfelt repentance and by a speedy completion of the temple, they were to seek to be cleansed from the sin of disobedience that had led away from God and had delayed the carrying out of the command to arise and build.... {4BC 1176.5}
In neglecting the temple, which was the mirror of God’s presence, the people had greatly dishonored God. They were now instructed to hold His house in sacred honor, not because of its magnificence, as did the Jews in the days of Christ, but because God had promised to be there. And this second temple was to be superior to the first because in a special sense the Messiah would honor it with His personal presence (The Review and Herald, December 12, 1907). {4BC 1176.6}
Where can we find the Lord’s temple today? What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Who is so great a God as our God? Jesus turned over the tables at the temple as the merchants made God’s House into a den of thieves. Christ said to the Jews “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” However, He was speaking of the temple of His body. After Christ Jesus rose from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said and believed the scripture, and the word, which Jesus had said. The Book of Job says, “Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the heart?” Jesus creates a clean heart in us and renews our spirit. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Our Father, which art in Heaven,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We thank You for being in us, in our hearts, minds, and souls. We surrender our entire being to You, and pray for Your
continual guidance in the way we should go. Help us to give up any worldly habits and to practice temperance in all things that are good. We cannot depend on our own strength but call on You to pour out the Holy Spirit upon us for strength and courage to move forward as You have commanded us to. We pray for the Holy Spirit to take possession of our minds, spirit, hearts, and character that we may bear good fruit. Please take away any evil habits from our temple. Help us with the work of salvation. We cannot do it by our own might but with the help of the One who is mighty to do it for us. We put all our faith and trust in doing Your will. Protect us as we evangelize spreading the good news of the everlasting gospel. Create a clean heart in us, oh God, and renew a right spirit within us. Sanctify us with the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for honoring this world with Your presence. We thank You for allowing Your human nature to die but not Your deity. Thank you for purchasing the fallen race with Your blood and saving all who accept the gift of salvation. Thank You for being the source of all life. You are the resurrection and the life. Thank you for breaking the bonds of death. Thank you for coming that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. We pray for You to work in us by the light of Your truth. Help our minds see the truth based on the scriptures. Help us to stay on the strait path that leads to Your heavenly kingdom. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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